80% of Women in Low and Middle Income Countries Own Mobile Phones

Approximately 80 percent of women in low and middle-income countries are now owners of mobile phones according to the GSMA’s 2019 Mobile Gender Gap Report.

According to the report, mobile is the primary means of internet access in these markets, where 48 percent of women use mobile to get online. However, despite the growth in connectivity, the gender gap in mobile ownership is not closing.

Women remain 10 percent less likely than men to own a mobile phone in low- and middle-income countries, and 23 percent less likely than men to use mobile internet.

The mobile gender gap varies by region and country but is widest in South Asia where women are 28 percent less likely than men to own mobile phones and 58 percent less likely to use the mobile internet.

“We are seeing significantly increased mobile access for women, however in an increasingly connected world, women are still being left behind. While mobile connectivity is spreading quickly, it is not spreading equally. Unequal access to mobile technology threatens to exacerbate the inequalities women already experience,” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA.

Taking Action to Address the Mobile Gender Gap

Mobile operators are taking action to address the mobile gender gap and leading an effort to drive digital and financial inclusion for women. As part of the GSMA Connected Women Programme’s Commitment Initiative, nearly 37 mobile operators from 27 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America have committed to reducing the gender gap in their mobile money or mobile internet customer base by 2020. These operators have provided over 16 million additional women with access to digital and financial services since 2016.

“Ensuring digital and financial inclusion for women is critically important, as we know that when women thrive, societies, businesses, and economies thrive,” added Granryd. “Reaching the 432 million women in these countries who are still unconnected will require concerted effort and coordination from the mobile industry, as well as policymakers and the international community.”

Women highlighted affordability, literacy and digital skills, a perceived lack of relevance, and safety and security concerns as the top barriers needing to be addressed in order to further decrease the mobile gender gap.

READ Financial Inclusion on the Rise Globally but Gaps Remain 

Opportunity for Significant Economic and Commercial Growth

The GSMA found that closing the gender gaps in mobile phones ownership and usage represents a substantial commercial opportunity for the mobile industry.

Over the next five years, low- and middle-income countries could gain an estimated additional $140 billion in mobile industry revenue if operators could close these gender gaps by 2023.

GSMA further found out that closing the mobile phones gender gap could be an important driver of economic growth. These markets could also add an additional $700 billion in GDP growth by 2023.

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